Thread: The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Experience

Thanks Luke, Andy, Bill, and Ray.

Ray, the tone curve is just something that I am experimenting with at the moment and the effect is much less than what setting gradation to auto offers. The tone curve adjustment is assigned by default to Fn2 but probably doesn't need to be constantly accessible. Currently I have it set to slightly reduce contrast (which is what I meant by a reverse curve but should have explained it better). I like a more contrasty image as a finished product but I want to keep the OOC file as data-rich as possible. In combination with setting the gradation to auto, the jpeg that I get OOC is very similar to how I process and export a RAW image from Adobe Camera RAW and from there go into Silver Efex or Color Efex. Gradation will add some shadow noise but on the new sensor I don't find it objectionable and noise reduction software like Nik Dfine will take care of most of it if desired.

It may well be that I will ultimately use the RAW file, but these are the best jpeg files that I have seen so far (never having used a Fuji, of course).

I have had one chance to use the camera during daylight hours, albeit only when going for a walk at work during lunchtime. To me the E-M5 seems better at handling extremes of exposure and subtleties in tones compared to the Panasonic GH1 which has until now been measured as having the best dynamic range amongst Micro 4/3 cameras. Added to that, the GH1's jpeg engine compresses the DR terribly and it needs to be shot in RAW, whereas all these E-M5 images were developed from jpegs.



M Zuiko 12-50mm f3.5-6.3




Lumix G 20mm f1.7 Pancake




Leica 25mm f1.4 DG Summilux




Leica 25mm f1.4 DG Summilux




Lumix G 20mm f1.7 Pancake




M Zuiko 12-50mm f3.5-6.3




M Zuiko 12-50mm f3.5-6.3




Leica 25mm f1.4 DG Summilux

Great photos Nic. They are very similar to your G1X photos, except for the photos with a shallower DOF.

Originally Posted by Armanius

Great photos Nic. They are very similar to your G1X photos, except for the photos with a shallower DOF.

Thanks, Armando. The images coming off the sensor of each camera are quite close. Both seem to have very light AA filters, have quite pleasant noise patterns, but the Oly probably just pulls in front for it's ability to handle extremes of highlights and shadows. For overall image quality I am very pleased with both cameras.

I should note have read this thread. I've been holding out for (hopefully) the new sensor in an EPM2. I'm assuming there would be no 5 axis IBIS. These shots are convincing me I might want BOTH an EM5 and an EPM1. Nice shots.

Nice shots, Nic!

Originally Posted by wt21

I should note have read this thread. I've been holding out for (hopefully) the new sensor in an EPM2. I'm assuming there would be no 5 axis IBIS. These shots are convincing me I might want BOTH an EM5 and an EPM1. Nice shots.

Yeah, I was holding out just fine until the camera store told me my preorder was in... there went the plan to wait for a new E-P4/5.

I am liking the E-M5 quite a bit so far. I have used the VF a bit more than I thought I would, but I am really loving the tilt screen. I do think that I will end up wanting something that is a bit smaller, so I am also excited to see what Oly does with the new PEN line. It would be tough to give up the high ISO performance now that I have the E-M5, especially when I would take the compact kit out a bit more for evenings out, etc.

Did I read correctly Nic, that these are processed from JPEGs? Wow, the pixels seem to hold up well to pretty heavy abuse. I have a pretty heavy hand in post and I'm quite amazed how clean they look. And the noise that's there seems more pleasant.

Is it possible for a JPEG from particular camera to be more forgiving than one from another camera? Or do I sound like an idiot? Maybe, if it's cleaner to start with? Nic, only you could answer in regards to what you are seeing since you are more intimate with the kind of processing you do, but perhaps other pixel-peep-aholics can weigh in with their opinions on that concept in general.

Originally Posted by wt21

I should note have read this thread. I've been holding out for (hopefully) the new sensor in an EPM2. I'm assuming there would be no 5 axis IBIS. These shots are convincing me I might want BOTH an EM5 and an EPM1. Nice shots.

Bill, for quite a while there I had the exact same thoughts as you; let the E-M5 go, hold out for when the Pens pick up the new sensor. In the end I changed my mind although the path will sound a little convoluted. After I bought the Canon G1X I decided that all my existing Canon DSLR gear was pretty much obsolete compared to the latest compact, large sensor cameras. I took my Canon 500D + 17-55mm f2.8 down with me for a short trip to Sydney and I know that with the G1X I would have done at least as good a job and probably better. Following that decision, which will free up a lot of space and more importantly money, I also wanted to update my Micro 4/3 gear since it will become my only camera system alongside the G1X.

The E-M5 isn't cheap but there is still a lot of value inside it. I'm super pleased that Olympus has come out with a camera that has really delivered everything that was expected of it and more. The IBIS and the IQ are really beyond my expectations, and you'd expect that maybe later this year there will be a tiny E-PM2 that will be an absolute giant killer, even more than the current one. I do wonder though if there will continue to be three different Pen models. With the E-M5 available it may be prudent for Olympus to merge the E-P and E-PL lines into one. From the bits and pieces I've read I also gather that the new IBIS may not filter down (or physically fit) into smaller Pen body but that's something that we'll have to wait and see.

Originally Posted by Luke

Did I read correctly Nic, that these are processed from JPEGs? Wow, the pixels seem to hold up well to pretty heavy abuse. I have a pretty heavy hand in post and I'm quite amazed how clean they look. And the noise that's there seems more pleasant.

Is it possible for a JPEG from particular camera to be more forgiving than one from another camera? Or do I sound like an idiot? Maybe, if it's cleaner to start with? Nic, only you could answer in regards to what you are seeing since you are more intimate with the kind of processing you do, but perhaps other pixel-peep-aholics can weigh in with their opinions on that concept in general.

Hi Luke

Yes, that's correct about the jpegs. I've since downloaded the DNG Convertor and am trying the RAW files but I'm not really seeing much difference between the two yet. Oly has always had a reputation for good jpegs but they would still compress the dynamic range to achieve good contrast. If you've still got your E-P3 you'll see on the Super Control Panel there is an option caller "Gradation" which is essentially a dynamic range expansion for jpegs if set to Auto. You'll excuse me if my technical terminology is all wrong but as well as boosting the highlights and shadows it also applies some kind of "micro contrast" so the images don't look all washed out. On the 12MP Pens I don't think that this suited the characteristics of the sensor because it would produce siginificant shadow noise. On the E-M5 the Auto Gradation is doing the same job but working with a higher DR sensor that has less inherent noise and more pleasant noise patterns, which means the shadows look much better compared to the Pens.

So by using Gradation, the OOC jpeg and the RAW file that I would apply a preset to and export out of ACR contain basically the same shadow and highlight data, but the jpegs have a contrastier look because they have more shadow definition/noise. The OOC jpegs are giving me what seems to be close to the full dynamic range of the sensor which I can then choose to retain or compress. If I want to compress the DR and apply more overall contrast to the image using a tone curve, the shadow noise will start to disappear as the shadows get darker. From that, I figure that unless I find something amazing in the RAW files I could easily use the OOC jpegs as long as I haven't significantly under/overexposed or got the white balance wrong. So far the AWB seems to be spot on. I should add that I haven't used the Auto Gradation at night yet, and it may well be that the shadow noise becomes too much.

That was a fairly wordy explanation but I hope that I made sense

Hi Nic,

That's what I was figuring. I didn't need or care about the 5 Axis IBIS. I have to get along without IBIS in my EPM1 anyway. But, reading more about just how revolutionary it is, I could see it for video, for night shots, and especially for helping with telephoto. Even if the shutter speed is OK for the shot, just framing on the long of end a telelphoto with the EPM1 is tricky.

Thanks for the write-up!

Originally Posted by Luckypenguin

Bill, for quite a while there I had the exact same thoughts as you; let the E-M5 go, hold out for when the Pens pick up the new sensor. In the end I changed my mind although the path will sound a little convoluted. After I bought the Canon G1X I decided that all my existing Canon DSLR gear was pretty much obsolete compared to the latest compact, large sensor cameras. I took my Canon 500D + 17-55mm f2.8 down with me for a short trip to Sydney and I know that with the G1X I would have done at least as good a job and probably better. Following that decision, which will free up a lot of space and more importantly money, I also wanted to update my Micro 4/3 gear since it will become my only camera system alongside the G1X.

The E-M5 isn't cheap but there is still a lot of value inside it. I'm super pleased that Olympus has come out with a camera that has really delivered everything that was expected of it and more. The IBIS and the IQ are really beyond my expectations, and you'd expect that maybe later this year there will be a tiny E-PM2 that will be an absolute giant killer, even more than the current one. I do wonder though if there will continue to be three different Pen models. With the E-M5 available it may be prudent for Olympus to merge the E-P and E-PL lines into one. From the bits and pieces I've read I also gather that the new IBIS may not filter down (or physically fit) into smaller Pen body but that's something that we'll have to wait and see.